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Mudrarakshasa (literary study)

by Antara Chakravarty | 2015 | 58,556 words

This page relates ‘Conclusion� of the English study on the Mudrarakshasa: an ancient Sanskrit dramatic play (Nataka) authored by Vishakhadatta which deals with the life of king Chandragupta. This study investigates the Mudra Rakshasa from a literary perspective, such as metrics, themes, rhetorics and other poetical elements. Chandragupta ruled the Mauryan Empire during the 4th century BCE, hence this text can also be studied as a historical textbook of ancient India.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

From a close observation of the drama it is clearly felt that the dramatist has given more emphasis on the delineation of ī than that of the other rasas that also related to ṇaⲹ . Raudra and ṇa also have some space in this drama, and there is a little mention of 󲹲Բ첹, Adbhutarasa and ŚԳٲ; and only a tint of Śṛṅ and ī󲹳ٲ. But the is totally absent from the drama. It is quite natural that a political drama possesses no humour, but the dramatist could have used some portions having satire through ṇaⲹ’s attendants or spies which would have made the drama more entertaining. Moreover, the absence of Śṛṅ also made the drama serious but monotonous. Yet, վś󲹻岹ٳٲ has earned all success in delineating the principal sentiment. The descriptions of different varieties of ī attain the zenith of the same.

According to the norms of dramaturgy, meters used in the verses expressing the sentiment of heroism should be of fast tempo. It should be capable of expressing the energy of the speaker. Meters like Vasantatilaka [Vasantatilakam], Śūīḍiٲ [Śūīḍiٲm], Śragdharā, ī etc with fast tempo are suitable for ī.[1]

Our dramatist also has followed the same with utmost care. Most of the heroic verses are composed in Vasantatilakam[2], Śūīḍiٲm[3], Śragdharā[4] etc. These kinds of minute observations of the dramatist have made the drama a perfectly heroic one.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

arthānurūpacchandastvamityanena śṛṅgāre drutavilamvitādaya�, vīre vasantatilakādaya�, karuṇe vaitālikādaya�, raudre sragdharādaya�, sarvatra śārdūlavikrīḍitādayo nibandhaniya ityupadiśati...and so Dz…A quoted in V. Raghavan’s ’s Śṛṅgāra Prakāśa. P. 306

[2]:

ѳܻṣa, I.10, II.6, II.8, III.31 etc.

[3]:

Ibid., II.13, VI.10, VII.21 etc.

[4]:

III.10, V.11, VI.21 etc.

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